Enrolled nurses at Dubbo seeking to upgrade their qualifications are among the intended beneficiaries of a new program aiming to smooth the transition to university.
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The project being led by Charles Sturt University (CSU) secured a $40,000 federal grant in partnership with two other tertiary institutions.
Project leader Dr Patricia Logan from CSU's School of Biomedical Sciences said since 2013 enrolled nurses (ENs) wanting to upgrade their qualifications to become registered nurses (RNs) were given direct entry to the second year of university degrees.
Dr Logan, who is based at the Dubbo campus of CSU, said many of the students had experienced a break in study since completing their initial training.
"Those studying online may also be juggling work and family commitments," she said.
"All of this can make the transition daunting."
Over the next year a website, learning materials and resources will be developed to help ENs come to grips with the study practices required for success at university and the site will include materials for revision of foundation science.
"The project will focus on revising the science basics in readiness for second year pathophysiology and pharmacology study," Dr Logan said.
The material will be available for all universities and ENs to access and also made available offline for those with poor internet connections.
The partnership also includes James Cook University and the University of Technology Sydney, and Dr Logan says the team will build a program to benefit any EN undertaking the transition to the university.
CSU enrols more than 100 ENs as students each year from across the state and quite a number from interstate, Dr Logan reported.
A preliminary trial of a transition program for ENs studying at CSU in 2014 showed promising results.
"This project aims to provide better transitions between the vocational educational and training sector and higher education," Dr Logan said.
"It's set to provide better educational support for the career pathways for nurses for which the flow-on effect is the improved health care for our communities through boosting the number of RNs."